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(No Model.)

' J. S. JUREY.

ARM BEST FOR KEY BOARD OPERATORS- Patented Apr. 5, 1887.

Winesses N. PUERS. Phola-Lflhugmphcr. Washington. DJC

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN S. JIIREY, OF BOONVILLE, MISSOURI.

ARM-REST FOR KEY-BOARD OPERATORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 360,529, dated April 5, 1887.

Application filed January 12, 1887. Serial No. 214,117. (We model To all whom may concern.-

" Be it known that I, JOHN S. JUREY, of Boonville, in the county of Cooper and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Arm-Rests for Key-Board Operators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists in an arm-rest or supporting device for the use of type-writer operators and others having occasion to manipulate finger-keys for considerable periods of time.

The device is susceptible of more'or less variation as to details; but it consists, essentially, of an overhanging arm or frame from which are suspended two arm-rests or hangers, the suspending cords, straps, or hands being preferably adjustable as to length, and made either of elastic or inelastic material, as preferred.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device in position for use; Fig. 2, a view showing the supporting frame or standard in a somewhat different form; Figs. 3, 4E, and 5, views of details.

It is well known that constant or prolonged use of a type-writer causes great fatigue to the operator, particularly of the arms and back, the arms being held unsupported in a nearly fixed position, while the hands are moved from the wrist,-very little if any motion being given to the forearm as a whole.

The purpose of this invention is to give adequate support to the arms, and incidentally to the back and shoulders, thereby obviating the fatigue heretofore unavoidable, and in great measure overcoming the now usual tendency of type-writer operators to become roundshouldered.

In the drawings, A indicates a frame, which may be made of heavy wire or light metal tubing, of wood, or other suitable material. This frame is designed to carry hangers or supporting devices B, which may conveniently be made in the form of strong cords, carrying at their lower ends semicircular or stirrup-shaped arm-rests 0.

Instead of cords, I may use straps, bands, or webbing, chains, or even metallic bands or wires. The cords or webbing may be elastic in themselves, or they, or the metallic bands, chains, the, may be inelastic, but attached to an elastic section, D, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The frame A may be secured either to the body of the type-writer or, as is more convenient, to the base-board upon which the machine is usually mounted. It may consist of uprights a a at each side of the machine, connected by a crossbar, b, as shown in Fig. 1, or it may be in the form of an overhanging arm or crane, with a cross-bar, I), as in Fig. 2, the form, size, and material being matters of judgment and taste, variable at will. The crossbar I) should stand somewhat forward of the keys or finger-buttons of the typewriter, so that when the hands are in position to strike the keys the arm-rests, hanging naturally, shall support the arms about midway between the wrists and elbows, though this, too, is a matter ot'judgment to some extent.

The suspenders or hangers B must be of such material, or so attached to the cross-bar or support Z) that the arm-rests C may swing freelyin all directions, to permit the hands to be carried readily over the key-board.

In practice I have found a non-elastic suspender well adapted to the purpose, and, in fact, deem such preferable to elastic ones, where the key-board is compact and small; but for larger key-boards, requiring greater movement of the hands, elastic suspenders possess some advantages, hence I propose to use, when desirable, cords or bands elastic in whole or in part, coiled springs, or even a spring-hanger or supporting-arm for the suspender to hang from. These constructions are illustrated in the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 showing inelastic hangers; Fig. 3, the elastic band or webbing; Fig. 4, the coiled spring forming the sus ponder or part thereof; Fig.5, the spring-arms, from which the suspenders are hung.

The arm-rests may he of any suitable form and material, being conveniently formed either of wire or of sheet metal covered with leather, cloth, or other soft material, and advisably padded somewhat. The suspenders should also be adjustable as to length, which end, in the case of cords, may be attained by merely tying them higher or lower, and in the case of straps and bands the same effect may be secured by the use of buckles.

Vith chains, wires, and metal hands a hook will be provided to hook in different links of the chain or eyes or holes of the wire or band.

It would be possible to suspend theiarmrest-s from a ceiling or wall, but not so convenient. It will readily be seen, too, that the rest may be supported from beneath, but the suspended arm-rests permit much greater ease of movement of the arms and are highly advantageous over the suggested modification.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. In combination with a typewriting machine, a support or rest located in front of the keyboard and adapted to pass beneath and support the forearm at or in rear of the wrists, said rests being free from clamps or other devices which might interfere with the free rise or removal of the arm from the rest.

2. In combination with an instrument or machine having a key-board, an overhanging irame or support, and arm-rests suspended from said support in front of the key-board, substantially as set forth.

JOHN S. JUREY.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM W. DODGE, JAMES F. DU HAMEL. 

